4-67 


J-NRLF 


/ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Class 


Ulith  itampliments  of 


SURVIVING  MEMBERS  OF  THE  STAFF  OF    . 


At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Staff  of  the  late  Major-Genera!  GEARY,  to  receive  report  of  Com 
mittee  on  publication  of  Memorial. 


RESOL  I/ED,  that  the  fwsnty-fwo  Autograph  copies  of  the  Memorial  be  distributed  as  follows, 


To  MRS.  GEARY,  one  copy. 

To  COL.  JOHN  P.  NICHOLSON,  one  copy, 

To  each  member  of  the  STAFF  one  copy. 


RESOLVED,  that  the  autograph  copy  presented  to  Mrs.  GEARY,  be  bound  by  Messrs.  PAWSON  and 
NICHOLSON,  at  their  discretion,  in  appropriate  style. 


RESOL  VED,  that  the  remaining  copies  of  the  Memorial  be  distributed  as  follows. 

To  MRS.  GEARY,  five  copies. 

To  each  member  of  the  STAFF,  nine  copies. 

To  each  of  the  following,   one  copy. 


GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT, 

W.  T.  SHERMAN, 
GEORGE  B.  McCLELLAN, 
A.  E.  BURNSIDE, 
JOSEPH  HOOKER, 
ROBERT  PATTERSON, 
N.  P.  BANKS, 
W.  S.  HANCOCK, 
H.  W.  SLOCO1, 
A.  S  .WILLIAMS, 
GEO.  S.  GREENE, 
JOHN  F.  HARTRANFT, 
T.  H.  RUGER, 
T.  L.  KANE. 
HECTOR  TYNDALE, 
P.  H.  JONES, 
JAMES  L.  SELFRIDGE 
GEO.  W.  MINDIL, 
ARK)  PARDEE,  JR., 
JOHN  FLYNN, 
"    •       A.  L.  RUSSELL, 

COLONEL  FRANK  JORDAN, 
P.  H.  FRENCH, 
JOHN  CRAIG, 

MAJOR  J.  M.  KNAP, 
CADET  W.  L.  GEARY, 


Hox.  CHARLES  SUMNER, 

11  HEISTER  CLYMER, 

"  THOMAS  A.  SCOTT, 

"  E.  M.  PAXSON, 

•'  F.  C.  BREWSTER, 

"  J.  D.  CREIGH, 

"  A.  S.  LANDIS. 

REV.  EDWARD  R.  GEARY, 

"      E.  R.  ROBINSON, 
FERDINAND  J.  DREER,  Esq. 


CONGRESSIONAL  LIBRARY,    WASHINGTON, 
HISTORICAL   SOCIETY  OF   PENNSYLVANIA, 
STATE   LIBRARY  OF   PENNSYLVANIA, 
THE  LIBRARY   COMPANY  OP  PHILADELPHIA, 
MERCANTILE  LIBRARY,  PHILADELPHIA, 
THE  UNION  LEAGUE,   PHILADELPHIA, 
THE   SCOTT   LEGION,  PHILADELPHIA, 
GETTYSBURG   MEMORIAL   ASSOCIATION, 
HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  OF  NEW  JERSEY, 
HISTORICAL   SOCIETY   OF   NEW  YORK, 
ASTOR   LIBRARY  OF  NEW  YORK, 
BOSTON  PUBLIC   LIBRARY, 
HISTORICAL   SOCIETY  OF   OHIO, 
HISTORICAL   SOCIETY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


-o 


O       ^ 


3it  Mmnriara. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
1873. 


250  Copies 

Priva'.ely  printed 


From  the  Press  of  W.  \V.  Bates  &  Co. 


I 


OHN    \/\/  HITE  I        .EARY 


Bom  December  30th,  1819. 
Died  February  8th.  1873, 


227195 


WE,  the  surviving  Staff-Officers  of  MAJOR  GENERAL 
JOHN  W.  GEARY,  during  the  late  War,  deeming  it  our 
duty, — record  as  our  tribute  to  the  military  character  and 
services  of  our  dead  Commander,  this 


Immortal 


In  presenting  this  we  shall  avoid  all  eulogy;  confining 
ourselves  to  the  recital  of  facts  known  to  us,  and  to  the 
expression  of  opinions  formed  from  daily  intercourse 
with  him,  in  the  camp,  on  the  battle-field  and  under 
circumstances  that  not  only  try  "mens'  souls,"  but  lay 
bare  their  thoughts  and  their  motives. 

We  knew  him  as  no  others  could,  save  his  own 
family.  Some  of  us  entered  the  service  under  his 
command  in  1861,  and  the  majority  of  us  were  members 
of  his  staff  in  1865  when  the  war  closed.  We  therefore 
speak  what  we  know;  and  we  wish  our  country  to  know 
him  somewhat  as  we  knew  him. 

He  was  ambitious — but  he  was  patriotic. 

He  sought  distinction — but  he  loved  his  country. 

He  was  prudent  and  careful — but  he  was  brave. 

Naturally  high  tempered, — his  temper  was  generally 
under  good  control;  under  great  excitement,  he  was 
sometimes  unjust, — but  he  was  generous, — quick  to 
acknowledge  a  wrong  and  prompt  to  make  reparation. 

He  was  vigilant  and  unwearied  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty. 

We  but  quote  the  often  expressed  estimate  of  his 
Commanding  Generals,  when  we  say  that  as  a  Division 
Commander  he  had  few  equals  and  no  superiors. 


8 

This  estimate  was  due  partially  to  that  strict  military 
discipline  which  led  him  to  yield  prompt,  unquestioned 
obedience  to  his  superiors,  and  to  expect,  without  excuse, 
obedience  of  the  same  character  from  all  under  his  com 
mand;  as  well  as  by  his  unceasing  personal  watchfulness 
over  the  condition  and  movements  of  every  Staff  Depart 
ment,  and  of  even  the  smallest  body  of  troops  under  his 
command. 

He  never  permitted  his  troops  to  be  unfurnished  with 
material  or  supplies;  No  matter  at  what  hour  of  the  day 
or  night  came  the  order  to  march,  the  White  Star  Division 
was  ready.  This  became  proverbial  in  the  Army,  and 
that  it  was  so,  was  due  to  the  unceasing  personal  vigilance 
of  the  only  Commander  it  ever  had — John  W.  Geary. 

Whatever  of  success  and  reputation  was  achieved  by 
the  White  Star  Division,  its  inspiration,  support  and 
development  came  from  but  one  Commander;  the  material 
which  composed  it  abounded  in  the  qualities  that  mark  the 
highest  type  of  the  American  volunteer  soldier,  but  these 
qualities  were  developed  and  utilized  to  the  best  advantage 
by  one  leader. 

He  timed  his  marches  and  his  halts  with  wonderful 
judgment,  so  as  not  to  unnecessarily  fatigue  his  troops; 
bringing  them  to  camp,  or  into  action  in  good  order  and 
condition. 

On  the  march,  he  habitually  rode  in  advance,  selected 
personally  the  camping  ground  for  his  troops,  disposing 
them  with  special  view  to  convenience  of  wood  and  water, 


and  security  for  the  night;  and  long  after  his  subordinates, 
wearied  to  exhaustion,  were  sound  asleep  by  their  camp 
fires,  General  Geary,  attended  by  a  single  Staff-officer, 
might  often  be  found  making  the  rounds  of  his  lines  to  see 
that  all  was  right. 

In  battle  the  same  qualities  were  prominent.  Without 
recklessly  exposing  his  troops,  he  was  vigilant,  always 
ready,  prompt  to  take  every  advantage  offered,  and  firm 
as  the  rocks  in  holding  a  position  he  had  gained. 

During  the  war  he  never  allowed  his  command  to  be 
surprised  or  taken  at  a  disadvantage,  and  he  was  never 
driven  from  a  position,  nor  ever  failed  of  success. 

To  tell  the  record  of  the  2nd  Division  2oth  Army 
Corps, — and  from  its  organization  known  by  its  badge,  as 
the  White  Star  Division, — is  but  to  repeat  four  years  of 
General  Geary's  biography.  The  reputations  of  both 
are  interdependent.  One  cannot  be  wounded  without 
injury  to  the  other. 

Of  General  Geary's  military  career  during  the 
Mexican  war,  and  of  his  honorable  record  from  the  28th 
of  July,  1861,  until  the  gth  of  August,  1862,  when  he  was 
dangerously  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain, 
we  do  not  deem  it  our  province  to  speak  at  length. 

During  the  first  twelve  months  of  the  late  war  he 
was  assigned  an  independent  command,  comprising  the 
28th  Penna.  Vols.,  and  Knap's  Battery,  with  other 
battalions  of  infantry  and  cavalry,  his  work  being  to  guard 
the  upper  Potomac,  including  the  adjacent  counties  of 


1O 


Virginia  and  Maryland,   as   far  south   as  the  line  of  the 
Rappahannock. 

From  the  i5th  of  July,  to  the  Qth  of  August,  1862, 
he  commanded  the  ist  Brigade  of  Auger's  Division  in 
Pope's  Army  of  Virginia. 

His  command  of  this  Brigade  terminated  with  the 
battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  where  his  left  arm  was  completely 
shattered  by  a  bullet,  and  he  was  compelled  to  return 
home  for  treatment.  Although  urged  by  surgeons  to 
submit  to  amputation,  he  refused,  and  by  the  first  of 
October  was  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  then 
encamped  around  Harper's  Ferry,  after  the  battle  of 
Antietam,  in  which  his  Brigade  had  borne  its  full  share; 
this  battle  was  the  only  one  among  the  many  in  wrhich 
his  troops  were  engaged  during  the  war,  at  which  General 
Geary  was  not  present  in  command.  Shortly  before 
Antietam,  Auger's  Division  with  the  rest  of  Pope's  Army 
had  become  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  under 
McClellan,  and  about  the  time  of  General  Geary's  return, 
orders  were  issued  reorganizing  the  Army.  The  i2th 
Corps  was  constituted  under  command  of  Major-General 
Slocum,  and  General  Geary  was  assigned  command  of 
the  2nd  Division,  comprising  his  old  Brigade,  under 
Colonel  Candy,  the  2nd  Brigade,  under  General  Kane,  and 
the  3rd  Brigade,  commanded  by  General  Greene. 

Shortly  after,  when  General  Hooker  designated  a 
separate  badge  to  be  worn  by  the  troops  of  each  Division, 
the  "White  Star"  became  the  symbol  of  General  Geary's 


1 1 

Division,  and  until  the  close  of  the  war   "in  that  sign" 
they  conquered. 

At  Chancellorsville,  the  i2th  was  one  of  the  four 
Corps  heavily  engaged.  There,  General  Geary  and  his 
command,  attacked  from  front,  right  and  left,  owing  to  the 
unfortunate  disaster  to  the  nth  Corps  on  his  right,  held 
the  advanced  position  for  hours  against  the  repeated 
assaults  of  Lee's  Army,  and  retired  to  the  new  line 
established  for  our  Army,  when  there  was  barely  a 
loop-hole  of  escape,  dragging  with  them  by  hand  the 
artillery  of  the  Division;  every  horse  belonging  to  the 
Batteries  having  been  shot,  and  most  of  their  Officers 
killed  or  w^ounded. 

In  this  action  General  Geary's  heroism  and  command 
of  his  troops  were  conspicuous,  and  he  stood  among  them, 
brave  and  determined  to  the  last.  A  solid  shot  from  the 
enemy's  cannon  grazed  him  so  closely  as  to  produce 
a  compression  of  his  chest,  rendering  him  voiceless  for 
nearly  two  days,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  never 
entirely  recovered.  Yet  he  remained  in  command,  issuing 
his  orders  in  whispers  to  his  staff,  throughout  the  entire 
battle. 

At  Gettysburg  his  ability  and  heroism  were  displayed 
on  a  wider  field,  and  with  those  of  other  commanders 
were  crowned  with  victory.  During  the  preliminary 
action  of  the  ist  of  July,  in  which  the  Corps  of  Reynolds 
and  Howard  were  unexpectedly  engaged  near  Gettysburg, 
orders  came  to  General  Geary  while  resting  his  troops  for 


12 


dinner,  at  "Two  Taverns,"  to  push  to  the  front.  No 
time  was  lost.  After  seeing  the  troops  well  on  their  way, 
General  Geary,  with  his  Staff,  rode  rapidly  ahead  to 
Cemetery  Hill,  where  he  found  the  ist  and  nth  Corps 
posted  after  their  engagement,  and  General  Hancock  in 
temporary  command  as  the  Senior  Officer  on  the  field. 

Hancock  addressing  Geary  said:  "You  see  the  high 
"knoll  on  our  left — (Round  Top).  If  you  can  get  your 
"troops  there  before  the  enemy  gets  possession,  we  can 
"establish  a  line  and  fight  him  here.  That  knoll  is  the 
"key  to  the  position,  and  in  the  absence  of  General 
"  Slocum,  I  will  give  you  a  direct  order  to  take  it — hurry 
"  up  your  troops." 

His  Division  was  hastened  forward,  and  when  night 
fell  had  occupied  Round  Top,  driving  off  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  and  had  stretched  its  attenuated  line,  connecting 
with  the  nth  Corps  on  Cemetery  Hill. 

During  the  night  other  Corps  arrived  and  new 
dispositions  were  made;  to  the  nth  Corps  was  given  the 
right  of  the  line  fronting  Rock  Creek,  and  at  daylight 
on  the  morning  of  the  2d,  Geary's  Division  moved  from 
the  left  to  the  right  of  the  army  line  and  occupied  Gulp's 
Hill ;  how  that  position  was  held  during  two  days  of  battle 
that  followed  is  matter  of  history,  doubly  attested  by  the 
timber  which  stands  to  this  day  seared  and  deadened  by 
the  tempest  of  lead. 

One  of  the  must  critical  periods  in  the  great  battle, 
was  the  night  of  the  2cl  and  the  morning  of  the  3d,  when, 


13 

had  General  Geary  and  his  Division  less  faithfully  and 
bravely  performed  their  work,  our  army  would  have  been 
in  imminent  peril. 

During  all  the  2d  the  enemy  had  made  persistent 
efforts  to  obtain  a  foothold  on  Gulp's  Hill,  and  further  on 
our  right,  evidently  knowing  that  if  he  succeeded,  he 
would  have  possession  of  the  Baltimore  turnpike,  and  that 
our  defeat  would  be  instant  and  overwhelming. 

But  every  charge  had  been  repulsed,  and  as  night 
gathered,  he  apparently  relinquished  his  fruitless  efforts. 
Then  came  information  that  the  left  of  the  army  line  was 
in  danger  of  being  overpowered,  and  orders  to  take  to 
the  threatened  point,  as  reinforcement,  all  of  the  i2th 
Corps  excepting  one  Brigade. 

Geary's  3d  Brigade,  commanded  by  that  sturdy  and 
heroic  fighter,  General  Greene,  was  ordered  to  extend  its 
line  to  occupy  the  entire  position- held  by  the  I2th  Corps. 
Silently,  in  the  dusk  of  evening,  Williams'  Division  of 
the  1 2th  Corps  and  the  other  two  Brigades  of  Geary's 
Division,  filed  out  of  their  breastworks  and  across  the 
Baltimore  turnpike  towards  the  point  designated — the 
troops  of  Greene's  Brigade  stretching  out  not  thicker  than 
a  skirmish  line  to  occupy  the  vacated  works.  But  the 
enemy  had  not  relaxed  his  vigilance.  Seeing  his 
opportunity  he  charged,  and  before  Greene  could  fully 
extend  his  line,  was  in  possession  of  the  works  left  by 
Williams'  Division.  But  Greene  was  equal  to  the 
occasion;  he  formed  the  right  of  his  Brigade  to  meet  the 


assault,  holding  the  works  in  his  front  with  a  skirmish 
line,  and  fought  with  desperation,  until  Geary  learned  the 
situation,  and  hastened  back  to  his  relief. 

With  his  remaining  troops  Geary  connected  with 
Greene  and  the  enemy  was  repulsed,  but  remained  in 
possession  of  our  breastworks  on  Greene's  right.  Geary 
was  sleepless  that  night,  knowing  that  in  the  morning  the 
enemy  must  be  driven  from  that  position  or  our  army 
was  defeated. 

All  night  he  worked  posting  troops  and  batteries.  He 
planted  24  pieces  of  artillery,  bearing  upon  the  enemy's 
position — gave  his  personal  attention  to  sighting  the 
guns,  taking  certain  trees  as  a  guide  for  the  gunners — he 
went  repeatedly  along  the  lines  where  his  troops,  and 
others  which  had  been  ordered  to  report  to  him,  were 
massed  near  the  Baltimore  turnpike,  crouching  in  silence, 
ready  to  spring  to  the  assault. 

At  daylight,  in  accordance  with  General  Geary's 
plan,  his  artillery  opened  and  maintained  its  fire  for  thirty 
minutes;  his  infantry  then  charged; — the  breastworks 
were  retaken,  and  the  line  re-established;  subsequently 
the  enemy  was  driven  across  Rock  Creek,  and  the  victory 
of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  was  assured  ;  for  generations 
to  come,  travellers  visiting  Gulp's  Hill,  where  this  memor 
able  rencontre  occurred,  will  wonder  how  men  could  live 
where  trees  were  stripped  of  their  bark  by  the  hailstorm 
of  bullets  on  that  eventful  morning. 


During  the  two  days  and  three  nights  that  General 
Geary  spent  upon  the  field  of  Gettysburg,  he  had  scarcely 
two  hours  unbroken  sleep;  yet  when  the  victory  was 
won,  on  the  fourth  day  he  was  in  the  saddle  at  sunrise 
and  ready  for  a  day's  march  of  twenty  miles,  in  pursuit 
of  the  enemy. 

Scarcely  had  the  armies  of  Meade  and  Lee  resumed 
their  old  lines  along  the  Rappahannock,  when  intelligence 
wTas  received  of  the  disaster  to  our  arms  at  Chickamauga: 
and  at  once  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps  were  placed 
under  the  command  of  General  Hooker,  and  dispatched 
to  the  relief  of  General  Thomas  at  Chattanooga. 

The  battle  of  Wauhatchie,  fought  by  only  about 
1500  men  under  the  personal  command  of  General  Geary, 
on  the  night  of  the  28th  of  October,  1863,  enabled  our 
army  to  open  the  line  of  supplies  by  the  Tennessee  River, 
from  Bridgeport  to  Chattanooga,  and  saved  the  almost 
starving  Army  of  the  Cumberland; — pursuant  to  Grant's 
plan  for  relieving  the  army,  the  greater  portion  of  the 
Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps  had,  by  forced  marches, 
reached  Lookout  Valley,  and  had  encamped  for  the  night 
at  the  foot  of  Lookout  Mountain;  the  Eleventh  Corps 
having  the  advance,  occupied  the  hills  skirting  the 
Tennessee  River;  and  at  about  five  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
General  Geary  having  reached  Wanhatchie,  a  position 
covering  the  road  to  Kelley's  Ferry,  bivouacked  his 
command  for  a  few  hours  rest; — all  day  long  the  enemy 
from  his  position  on  Lookout  Mountain,  2500  feet  above, 


i6 

had  watched  the  movements  of  our  troops,  and  counted 
their  strength;  regarding  it  as  an  easy  night's  work  to 
"gobble  up  a  wagon  guard"  as  he  designated  Geary's 
command  in  his  official  report;  one  Division  of  Longstreet's 
Corps,  about  5000  strong,  marched  down  in  the  darkness 
in  full  confidence  of  victory; — drove  in  Geary's  pickets; — 
with  exultant  yells  assaulted  his  little  force,  and  by 
superiority  of  numbers  enveloped  him  on  three  sides. 

Hut  he  had  carefully  made  his  dispositions,  and  was 
not  taken  unprepared;  well  he  knew  that  his  defeat  at 
that  point  would  result  in  almost  irretrievable  disaster  to 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland;  while  victory  would  almost 
insure  its  safety;  neither  troops  nor  commander  could  be 
moved  from  their  position;  and  after  three  hours  of  most 
terrific  midnight  fighting,  the  enemy  was  driven  in  hasty 
retreat  back  to  Lookout  Mountain,  leaving  on  the  field 
in  dead,  wounded  and  prisoners,  more  than  the  entire 
number  of  troops  that  General  Geary  had  engaged. 

Throughout  that  fearful  contest,  Geary's  gallantry 
was  displayed  in  the  highest  degree;  the  loss  of  officers 
in  his  command  was  unusually  severe,  and  among  those 
killed  was  his  son,  Lieutenant  Edward  Geary  of  Knap's 
Battery,  a  young  officer  of  unusual  promise,  and  beloved 
by  all  who  knew  him;  few  could  know  the  high  hopes  of 
the  father  which  were  crushed  in  an  instant  by  this  terrible 
blow;  yet,  though  cognizant  of  the  fact  when  it  occurred, 
for  they  were  but  a  few  feet  apart,  the  lather  sunk  the 
fearful  sense  of  personal  bereavement,  in  that  of  duty  to 


his     country,    and     nerved     himself    the     more     to    the 
conflict. 

General  Hooker,  in  his  official  report  of  this  action, 
says : 

"During  these  operations,  a  heavy  musketry  fire  with 
"occasional  discharges  of  artillery,  continued  to  reach  us 
"  from  Geary;  it  was  evident  that  a  formidable  adversary 
"  had  gathered  around  him,  and  that  he  was  battering  him 
"  with  all  his  might." 

"  For  almost  three  hours,  without  assistance,  he 
"  repelled  the  repeated  assaults  of  vastly  superior  numbers, 
"and  in  the  end  drove  them  ingloriously  from  the  field; 
"  at  one  time  they  had  him  enveloped  on  three  sides,  under 
"  circumstances  that  would  have  dismayed  any  officer 
"except  one  endowed  with  an  iron  will  and  the  most 
"exalted  courage:  such  is  the  character  of  General 
"  Geary." 

It  would  be  useless  to  indulge  in  speculations  as  to 
the  possible  results  which  might  have  ensued,  had  Geary 
been  defeated  in  this  action;  it  is  enough  to  say  that  his 
success  was  deemed  of  the  first  importance  by  his  com 
manding  General,  and  the  victory  was  hailed  by  General 
Thomas  and  his  hungry  Army  in  Chattanooga,  as  their 
sure  deliverance  from  almost  actual  famine:  the  next  day, 
steamers  conveyed  by  the  Tennessee  River,  provisions 
and  forage  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  enabling 
them  to  recuperate  for  their  part  in  the  series  of  brilliant 


i8 

achievements  so  soon  to  follow,  and  in  all  of  which  Geary 
and  his  command  bore  their  full  share. 

The  first  of  these, — the  storming  and  capture  of 
Lookout  Mountain, — took  place  less  than  a  month  after 
Wauhatchie  ;  and  fully  did  Hooker  appreciate  the  peculiar 
abilities  of  General  Geary,  when  he  selected  him  and 
about  2000  of  the  White  Star  Division  to  storm  the 
heights  from  which  the  enemy  had  so  long,  in  apparent 
security,  observed  the  most  secret  movements  of  our 
Army;  for  it  should  be  borne  on  record, — that  this 
memorable  assault  was  made  alone  by  this  small  force 
headed  by  General  Geary: — all  the  other  troops  under 
Hooker's  command,  being  held  as  supports  at  the  base  of 
the  mountain. 

And  here  we  quote  again  from  General  Hooker's 
official  report: — after  speaking  of  the  other  troops,  of  the 
scaling  of  the  mountain  and  driving  of  the  enemy  by 
Geary  and  his  command,  the  report  says: 

"This  lasted  until  12  o'clock,  when  Geary's  advance 
"heroically  rounded  the  peak  of  the  mountain;  not 
"  knowing  to  what  extent  the  enemy  might  be  reinforced, 
"  directions  had  been  given  for  the  troops  to  halt  on 
"reaching  this  high  ground;  but  fired  by  success, — with 
"a  flying,  panic-stricken  foe  before  them,  they  pressed 
"impetuously  forward;  our  success  was  uninterrupted 
"and  irresistible;  at  a  quarter  past  five  o'clock,  General 
"  Carlin  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps,  reported  to  me  with 
"his  Brigade,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  on  the  right  of 


19 

"the  line  to  relieve  Geary's  command  almost  exhausted 
"  with  the  fatigue  and  excitement  incident  to  their 
"unparalleled  march." 

During  the  next  three  days  the  memorable  assault 
upon  Mission  Ridge,  in  which  Geary's  Division  lost  some 
of  its  bravest  spirits;  the  battle  of  Ringgold,  where  Geary 
and  his  Eastern  troops  vied  with  Osterhaus  and  his  Western 
heroes  in  gallantry  and  daring : — and  the  pursuit  of  Bragg 
to  the  mountain  wilds  of  Georgia  completed  the  brief 
campaign  so  brilliantly  opened  at  Wauhatchie. 

For  the  signal  services  of  the  White  Star  Division 
in  these  operations,  a  special  review  of  this  Division  alone, 
was  ordered  by  the  Army  Commander,  at  which  were 
present  Generals  Grant,  Thomas,  Hooker  and  Hunter, 
with  a  majority  of  the  Army  and  Corps  Commanders  of 
the  Department ; — an  honor  accorded  to  very  few  if  to 
any  other  single  Division  during  the  war. 

For  his  personal  gallantry  and  services,  Generals 
Grant,  Thomas  and  Hooker  united  in  a  recommendation 
to  the  Secretary  of  War,  that  General  Geary  should  be 
made  a  Major  General ;  the  promotion  was  promised  by 
the  Secretary  so  soon  as  a  vacancy  should  occur  in 
Pennsylvania  appointments,  but  the  promise  was  never 
fulfilled ;  General  Geary  however,  did  not  relax  in  the 
least,  his  zeal  in  the  cause  of  his  country  ;  untiring  in  his 
patriotism,  during  all  the  remaining  months  of  the  war  he 
marched  and  fought,  devoting  to  her  cause  all  the  great 
strength  and  wonderful  energy  of  his  nature. 


2O 


About  this  time,  an  order  of  the  War  Department 
authorized  the  re-enlistment  of  troops  who  had  served 
continuously  for  two  years  ;  and,  in  consideration  of  their 
re-engagement  for  an  additional  term  of  three  years, 
conferred  upon  them,  with  other  privileges,  the  honorary 
title  of  "  Veterans  ."  To  this  order,  the  first  response  came 
from  the  White  Star  Division ;  on  the  9th  day  of 
December,  1864,  the  2Qth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  were 
re-mustered  into  the  service  as  the  First  Veteran 
Regiment  of  the  war;  the  entire  Division,  including  Knap's 
Battery,  followed  as  rapidly  as  their  musters  could  be 
made  out;  the  single  exception  being  that  of  the  yth 
Ohio  Volunteers :  this  magnificent  Regiment,  one  of  the 
best  in  the  Division,  after  serving  three  years  and  three 
months,  and  having  been  conspicuous  for  gallantry  on 
every  field,  had  but  a  few  days  before  the  receipt  of  the 
"Veteran"  order,  suffered  fearfully  atRinggold  where  were 
killed  its  Colonel,  Lieutenant  Colonel,  Adjutant,  and  a 
very  large  proportion  of  its  line  officers  ;  the  rank  and 
file  also  suffered  so  severely  that  barely  a  "Corporal's 
Guard"  of  the  Regiment  was  left;  we  believe  this  to  be 
the  only  instance  in  the  Army  where  an  entire  Division 
re-enlisted  under  the  "Veteran"  order. 

On  the  ist  of  May,  1864,  commenced  the  campaign 
of  Sherman  against  Atlanta,  to  end  only  when  one 
hundred  days  of  almost  continuous  battle  had  won  for  us 
that  stronghold  of  the  enemy  ;  and  into  which  the  first 
national  colors  to  be  carried  were  those  of  the  White  Star 


21 

Division  ;  in  all  the  battles  and  marches  of  this  campaign, 
General  Geary  and  his  Division  bore  a  prominent  part, 
and  inscribed  on  their  banners  the  legends,  "  Mill  Creek 
Gap,"  "Resaca,"  "New  Hope  Church,"  "Pine  Hill," 
"  Kenesaw,"  "  Peach  Tree  Creek,"  and  scores  of  minor 
engagements. 

After  a  brief  rest  in  Atlanta,  the  "  March  to  the  Sea" 
followed,  during  which  each  Corps  and  Division  of  the 
Armies  of  Georgia  and  of  the  Tennessee  vied  with  the 
other  for  the  honor  attaching  to  the  capture  of  the  enemy's 
cities  ;  Savannah  was  the  great  prize  ;  bravely,  persistently 
was  it  contended  for,  and  again,  as  at  Atlanta,  General 
Geary's  Division  took  the  honors,  and  the  White  Star  wras 
the  first  national  emblem  unfurled  over  the  captured  city. 

For  this  achievement,  General  Geary  was  made 
Military  Governor  of  Savannah,  and  here  his  peculiar 
administrative  and  executive  ability  was  fully  displayed ; 
the  City  was  quickly  placed  in  the  best  sanitary  condition  ; 
good  order  and  personal  security  were  guaranteed  and 
enforced ;  and  the  people  who  had  feared  the  approach  of 
our  Army  were  led  to  admire  and  respect  it ;  so  general 
was  this  feeling  that  a  most  respectful  and  powerful  appeal 
was  made  by  the  residents  of  the  city  to  the  General 
Commanding,  to  have  General  Geary  retained  as  their 
Governor  when  the  Army  should  again  advance ;  but  he 
was  known  to  be  useful  in  the  field  as  well  as  in  the 
administrative  chair,  and  the  request  was  not  granted. 


22 

Throughout  the  Carolinas,  as  upon  all  former 
campaigns,  General  Geary  impressed  upon  all  under  his 
command,  both  by  orders  and  personal  example,  that 
while  the  enemy  should  be  fought  bravely  and  persistently, 
no  unnecessary  distress  should  be  caused  to  the  unfortunate 
or  the  helpless  ;  the  campaign  from  Savannah  to  Raleigh 
was  not  marked  by  any  severe  engagements,  but  it  called 
for  as  much  energy,  endurance  and  vigilance  as  did  any 
during  the  war  ;  and  we  can  testify  how  strikingly  all 
these  qualities  were  manifested  by  General  Geary  ;  his 
engineering  skill  and  personal  supervision  of  details 
enabled  him  to  overcome  obstacles  and  to  achieve  results 
on  that  long  and  harrassing  march  through  the  swamps 
and  quicksands  of  the  Carolinas  in  mid-winter,  when  most 
other  men  would  have  failed ;  one  great  cause  of  his 
success  in  these  operations  was  the  promptness  which 
characterized  all  his  movements ;  his  Division  was  never 
known  to  be  a  second  behind  the  time  ordered,  whether 
to  march, — to  form  in  line  of  battle — or  to  charge  the 
enemy  ;  so  prominent  was  this  characteristic,  that  it  was 
frequently  said  by  his  superior  officers:  "Order  Geary  to 
march  at-  Four,  and  he'll  be  on  the  road  at  half  past 
Three." 

In  reviewing  this  brief  sketch,  we  feel  that  we  have 
not  been  able  in  so  short  a  space,  to  do  more  than 
present  a  few  instances,  among  the  hundreds  that  came 
under  our  observation,  of  the  display  of  those  leading 
qualities  which  made  General  Geary  what  he  was ;  and 


23 

with  but  few  additional  words  we  close  our  tribute; — 
General  Geary  was  consistently  and  conscientiously  a 
temperance  man : — temperate  in  eating,  and  abstaining 
entirely  from  intoxicating  drinks  ;  his  social  relations  were 
marked  by  a  purity  and  a  strength  from  which  the  temp 
tations  of  the  army  could  not  swerve  him ;  he  was 
companionable  by  nature,  and  often  did  his  social  qualities 
render  lighter  and  more  easily  borne,  the  hardships  of  the 
march  and  the  deprivations  of  the  camp  ;  he  was  economi 
cal  ;  and  was  in  the  habit  of  saving  much  of  his  salary 
and  investing  it  in  the  securities  of  the  Government. 

At  Murfreesboro,  Stevenson,  Bridgeport,  and  many 
other  points,  and  conspicuously  at  Savannah,  had  he 
prostituted  his  position  for  money,  or  misused  the 
opportunities  presented  to  him  while  in  command,  he 
might  have  accumulated  a  fortune,  but  under  all  circum 
stances,  his  integrity  was  unsullied  and  unquestioned. 

He  acquired  the  confidence,  and  retained  the  affection 
of  those  who  knew  him  most  intimately,  in  a  marked 
degree  ;  from  the  organization  of  the  White  Star  Division 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  his  Staff  remained  continuously 
the  same  with  such  exceptions  as  were  caused  by  death 
or  promotion ;  no  Staff  Officer  of  his  Division  ever 
resigned  or  was  dismissed. 

Our  feeling  of  unity  with  each  other,  and  with  our 
late  commander  is  therefore  a  tie  of  more  than  ordinary 
character ;  the  memories  of  our  dead  and  the  wounds  of 


24 

the  living  are  silent  and  impressive  witnesses  to  the  truth 
of  this  tribute  to  the  character  of  our  Chief. 

To  his  widow  we  dedicate  this  memorial,  and  ask  the 
privilege' of  laying  our  chaplet  upon  the  tomb  of 


JOHN  WHITE  GEARY. 


WILLIAM  T.  FORBES, 

Major  and  Ass't  Adjutant  General, 

Bv't  Lt.  Col.  U.  S.  Vols. 

MOSKS  VEALE, 

Major  109th  P.  V.  V.,  Ass't  Commissary  Musters, 

and  A.  D,  C. 

REUBEN  H.  WILBUR, 

Major  102d  N".  Y.  V.  V.,  Ass't  Commissary  Musters, 

and  A.  D.  C. 
Bv't  Lt.  Col.  U.  S.  Vols. 

LEWELLYN  R.  DAVIS, 

Captain  7th  Ohio  V.,  and  A.  D.  C., 

Lt.  Col.  187th  Ohio  Vols. 

JOHN  P.  GREEN, 

Captain,  Ass't  Adjutant  General  U.  S.  V. 

and  A.  D.  C. 

WILLIAM  C.  ARMOR, 

Captain  28th  P.  V.  V.  and  A.  D   C 

Bv't  Major  U  S.  Vols. 

WILLIAM  H.    LAMBERT, 

Captain  33rd  N.  J.  V.,  and  Ass't  Inspector  General, 

Bv't  Major  U.  S.  Vols. 


MICHAEL  NOLAN, 

Captain  fiOth  N.  Y.  V.  V.,  Acting  Judge  Advocate, 

Bv't  Major  U.  8.  Vols. 


26 


EUGENE  SCHILLING, 

Captain  W2d  N.  Y.  V.  Y.,  Topographical  Engineer, 

Bv't  Major  U.  S.  Vols. 

ALFRED    BALL, 

Surgeon  5th  Ohio  V.  V.,  Surgeon  in  Chief. 

J.   A.  WOLF, 

Surgeon  29th  P   V.  V.,  and  Surgeon  in  Chief. 

H.  EARNEST  GOODMAN, 

Surgeon  U.  S.  V..  Surgeon  in  Chief, 

and  Colonel  U  S.  Vols. 


GILBERT  L.   PARKER, 

Captain  and  Ass't  Quarter  Master,  U.  S.  V., 

Bv't  Lt  Col.  U.  S.Vols. 


JAMES  GILLETTE, 

Captain  and  Commissary  Subsistence  U.  S.  V., 

Bv't  Major  15th  Infantry,  U.  S.  A. 


BENJ.  F.  LEE, 

Captain  and  Commissary  of  Subsistence,  U  S.  Vols. 


JOSEPH  A.   MOORE, 

Captain  147th  P.  V.  V.,  Ass't  Comm'y  Subsistence. 


HENRY  H.  WILSON, 

Captain  147th  P   V.  V.,  and  Ordnance  Officer. 

WILLIAM  E.  GOODMAN, 

Captain  147th  P.  V.  and  Ordnance  Officer, 

Bv'tMaj.  U.S.Vols. 

CHARLES  W.  CHAPMAN, 

1st  Lieut.  28th  P.  V  V.,  and  Ambulance  officer. 

WILLIAM  J.   MACKEY, 

Major  147th  P.  V.  V.,  and  Ambulance  officer. 


ERRATUM. 


Page  12.  read  12th  Corps,  in  19th  ,;„«,  instead  of  luh  Corps 


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